NO REINFORCEMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 85, 3 January 1918, Page 6

NO REINFORCEMENTS

THE "ANTI" ATTITUDE IN ; AUSTRALIA "500,000 GLISTENING BAYONETS , , AT HOME" The . leaders of the anti-conscription campaign in Australia did not pretend to " ; bejie?<flhat reinforcements could •he maintained under the voluntary system. This is how the position was "stated by Mr. J. H. Catts, M.H.11., secretary of the Federal Parliamentary Labour Committee: — . "As to . the future . actual number of enlistments, Australia cannot provide a large quota for a lengthy war. 'Australia knows this cannot be done. Our .soldiers do not -wish it. They have.' had experience of other lands, and the blooct-soaked fields of battle. .Their thoughts ever fondly turn to the 'Australia they left behind as they knew it. All their hopos are, centred upon the prospect of return to this free ■democracy, with its edifice of social and industrial legislation, its customs of labour and leisure intermingled, its financial stability, its prosperity and plenty. These can only be protected and conserved by a policy talcing into account vital Australian needs, the policy of 'Australia first.' Mr./Hughes's policy was of necessity based upon certain exemptions and regard for essential industry. It acknowledged the principle qf 'Australia first,' but did not propound that policy in conformity ■with Australian opinion. There must be some measure of our sacrifice compared ivith the advantages to Britain. AYe must not .rum Australia for confparativelv small service in the cjwiso of the Allies. Australia will not believo that its last man means victory to the Allies, hut it knows thrt the last maft sent from these shorts means the -n-reckins of Australia, its vital poll- , cies. and its destiny. It is arrant nonsense to say that our welfare at the peace conference depends upon our utter helplessness at home—the fact that our last man lias gone. Australia's best' argument at the peace conference would be 500.000 glistening bayonets at home. i "The time has arrived for a careful investigation as to Australia's needs in man-power for all mirposes. Industrial and'commercial, as well as racial and national. Our financial obligations could never be honoured under the conscript schemes of Mr. Hughes and his cohorts. Having decided this, I repeat what I said after the last referendum, the last man Australia can spare for service' abroad would lo forthcoming under a voluntary scheme reasonably meeting the economic demands of our existing and prospective fighters, administered bona fide by a man or men having faith in such a

policy." - Apparently the "500,000 glistening bayonets at home" are to be borne, to tiie confusion of the Empire's enemies, by the men who will not fight.-